Opening night
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Opening night |
| Original title | Opening night |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1977 |
| length | 139 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Cassavetes |
| script | John Cassavetes |
| production |
Al Ruban Sam Shaw |
| music | Bo Harwood |
| camera | Al Ruban |
| cut | Tom Cornwell |
| occupation | |
| |
Opening Night (Alternative title on TV: The first performance ) is an American film drama of John Cassavetes from the year 1977 .
action
Myrtle Gordon is a big star in America. She is in her early 40s and is pushed into a role by theater director Manny Victor, which the playwright Sarah Goode wrote about a woman who is struggling with aging. In out-of-town try-outs , the piece is rehearsed and played day after day outside of New York in the American provinces. However, Myrtle can't come to terms with playing an older woman. She fears that she will only get older female roles after this role, and the role mixes with Myrtle's real worries.
After a performance, Myrtle is harassed by fans. 17-year-old Nancy in particular chases after her. Even when Myrtle is already sitting in the car, she pushes herself against the car window in the pouring rain. While driving away, Myrtle sees the girl being run over by a car. The young woman's death never lets go of Myrtle. She recognizes herself in the girl and remembers her own youth. The rehearsals are getting more and more difficult. Myrtle refuses the role. The director, producer, and writer strive to keep Myrtle hooked. Already in the last performance in the provinces, Myrtle constantly falls out of the role and so the ensemble drives nervously to New York for the premiere on Broadway, not only because of the premiere lamp fever . In New York the audience as well as the ensemble await the beginning of the performance. However, the main actress is missing; After a long wait she comes to the theater completely drunk. Nevertheless, director Manny tries to start the play with the drunken actress. Myrtle can barely stand on her feet. However, the ensemble supports them wherever it can to get the performance halfway through. In the last scene of the last act, Myrtle begins to fall completely out of the role and improvises together with her partner Maurice. The piece ends as a comedic farce. Myrtle is still celebrated by the New York audience for her performance.
Reviews
Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times that the film tells the story of an alcoholic actress in the final stages of the crash, who makes life difficult for those around her. Gena Rowlands plays her role " perfectly "; it credibly shows the panic of a person who needs a drink “ right here, right now ”.
The Lexicon of International Films wrote that the film was "a precise and sensitive portrayal of the lack of communication between people who live and work together ". The leading actress' “ great performance ” was “ fascinating ”.
Rotten Tomatoes wrote that the film was yet another " haunting portrait " drawn by John Cassavetes of an individual on the " edge of madness ". The leading actress and supporting actors John Cassavetes and Ben Gazzara received praise.
Awards
Gena Rowlands for Best Actress - Drama and Joan Blondell for Best Supporting Actress were nominated for a 1978 Golden Globe Award . Gena Rowlands won the 1978 Silver Bear while John Cassavetes was nominated for the Golden Bear . The film won the Interfilm Award - Otto Dibelius Film Award of the Berlin International Film Festival .
background
Director and writer John Cassavetes actually wanted to cast the role of playwright Sarah Goode with Bette Davis . However, this refused. His second choice was Joan Blondell, who had already appeared on a Broadway stage with James Cagney in 1929 .
The world premiere took place on December 22, 1977 in Los Angeles . In February 1978 the film was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival .
Web links
- Opening Night at the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Opening Night at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Review by Roger Ebert , accessed on August 8, 2007.
- ↑ Opening Night in the Lexicon of International Films , accessed on August 8, 2007.
- ↑ www.rottentomatoes.com , accessed August 8, 2007.
- ^ Tim Applegate: Retrospective: John Cassavetes. In: The Film Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2008 (Issue 7, November 2003).
- ^ Ray Carney: Mail, Events, Screenings, News: 46. In: The John Cassavetes Pages. Retrieved March 3, 2008 (letter to the editor).
- ↑ Dennis Lim: The Play's the Thing. In: The Criterion Collection. Retrieved March 3, 2008 .
- ^ Opening Night (1977). In: notstarring.com - Your favorite stars, and the roles they didn't get.Retrieved March 3, 2008 .
- ^ Dates for the opening night , accessed March 1, 2008.